Australian funding to improve learning environment at four Fiji schools

3 November 2008


As part of Australia’s ongoing commitment to education in Fiji, students at four schools in the country, - one each in Vatukoula, Ba, Lautoka and Tailevu - are set to benefit from Australian funding grants totalling just over $25,000.

The grants have been provided by the Australian High Commission through its Direct Aid Program.

The Direct Aid Program aims to reduce poverty and achieve sustainable development by addressing humanitarian issues. It provides assistance for small scale development projects with a particular focus on addressing the developmental needs of disadvantaged groups.

In Vatukoula, a grant of just over $8,700 to the Vatukoula Convent School will be used to purchase much needed school books. Many of the school’s students are children of miners who became unemployed following the closure of the Vatukoula gold mine in December 2006.

The Qerelevu Hindu School in Ba will also use its grant of just over $6,700 to purchase library books. Children from the school have to travel almost 25 kilometres to the nearest public library.

In Saweni, near Lautoka, students attending the Gurukul Primary School will also have access to a wider range of library books following a grant of just over $7800.

An amount of just over $1,800 has been provided to Tailevu North College for the purchase of agricultural equipment for the school’s Agricultural Science Department. Tailevu North College is located in a largely farming community and the Australian grant aims to support and encourage interested students to pursue further studies in agriculture.

Acting Australian High Commissioner, Mr Andrew Martin, congratulated the grant recipients and encouraged other community organisations to enquire about the Direct Aid Program.


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